Coughlan ready for battle

EARLY season training with a twist. Enda Coughlan has grown accustomed to the hard slog during the months of February and March in recent years, trying to calibrate his body for the rigours of the football season ahead.

Typically for Coughlan that has entailed intercounty duties with Clare but he has a valid excuse for being marked absent from the Banner setup of late. Tomorrow afternoon he’ll strap on the captain’s armband and lead his club Kilmurry-Ibrickane out for battle in the All-Ireland Club SFC final against St Gall’s in Croke Park. The club has consumed his football interest over the past few months and the difference in being immersed in fierce competition at this time of year has infused Coughlan with enthusiasm.

“Normally this time of year, I’d be either with Clare training for the league or if it was with Kilmurry-Ibrickane, I’d be training for the Cusack Cup.